AMA Homestead Test Practice Day 2 2012

His insatiable thirst for life is only surpassed by his monthly fuel bill. Whether rocketing on land, flying through the air, or jumping the seas, our Road Test Editor does it all and has the scars to prove it.

(Above) Around 50 competitors traveled to Miami to take part in a two-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Below) Ben Bostrom recorded the fastest time of the test in Miami.

A few select AMA motorcycle road racers completed the final day of an official two-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for the races taking place the second to last weekend in September.

Ben Bostrom moved up a couple of positions from yesterday and will leave Miami with the fastest outright lap in the Superbike class.

“I’ve been here before,” commented the veteran AMA racer. “In 1996 I won the Harley race here, so the track was semi-good to me then too. My first lap around here this year, I said ‘I don’t even remember this track.’ It’s crazy, I didn’t remember it. But the bike is fantastic, nice comeback after Daytona; we had a really tough time there. Actually it sucked, let’s admit it. I know for the rest of the tracks, especially these twisty tracks, we have an awesome handling machine.”

His teammate, Roger Lee Hayden also had success netting the second fastest time: “I came here right as the 200 was ending; probably before it was even done I was on my way here. Me and my girlfriend came here for a few days and hung out by the beach. It’s been a long couple of months getting ready for the season so it’s kind of nice to take a few days off. I’m a huge sports fan and I’ve always wanted to see LeBron James play. I went to the Miami Heat game on Sunday night when they played the Orlando Magic, so I got to see Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade and LeBron play. It was one of those things I get to check off the list.”

Last weekend’s Superbike Race 1 winner, Josh Hayes also lapped in the 1’21-range. Though it’s important to note that the reigning two-time Superbike champ isn’t known for hanging it out while testing. Meanwhile his teammate and series rookie, Josh Herrin was a little over a second and a half off the front runners pace.

Blake Young, who recorded the quickest time on the first day improved slightly but not nearly as much as the top-three did ending the test fourth fastest ahead of Larry Pegram, Chris Clark and David Anthony.

In the middleweight Daytona Sportbike class, the top-three riders from yesterday managed to lap a little faster but the running order didn’t change.

“It was really good; the track got a little more grip today,” said fast-man Cameron Beaubier. “We tried some things with suspension, getting a little more brake feel. The bike worked really well today, I really like the track and I’m excited to race here.”

Tommy Hayden rode at the Homestead-Miami test and recorded the third fastest overall time in the Daytona Sportbike class.

Martin Cardenas was also almost a second faster and appears to be re-acclimating to the class after racing as a rookie in the Superbike class last season. Tommy Hayden, who is filling in for Garrett Gerloff, was also pleased with his performance and was excited to get some more seat time before the Road Atlanta round taking place next month.

I enjoyed myself here at the track,” said Hayden. “It seemed like everything went pretty smooth, cool to have a new race and a new track to come and ride. I felt more comfortable with the bike and the team as well, chipped away at things little by little. I made my times a little faster and I’m feeling good. I’m going to be doing the next two races, for sure. It’s a big change for me, you know, with a new team, running a 600, but I’m really looking forward to it so I want to come to the next race and put in a little better fight than we did in Daytona. No major changes, the bike has proven itself for years. A couple of small things to get myself more comfortable personally to it, for my riding style, but for the most part I’m just adapting myself back to the 600 riding style and trying to break some superbike bad habits. I feel pretty confident at Road Atlanta. We are going to be able to compete there with some good results.”

DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

Fuel is measured before being poured into the fuel tank – Homestead-Miami Speedway test.

In the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Supersport class, Jake Lewis held the fastest time ahead of James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim. Last weekend’s race winner, Elena Myers was seventh fastest of the test.

“It went really well, we ended up setting the fastest time of the test so we’re happy,” said Lewis. “I’ve gotten really comfortable with the bike and the team and I’m looking forward to going to Road Atlanta. I know that track, so I won’t have to deal with the learning curve like I did at Daytona. Mark Junge [Team Manager] gave me a road bicycle so I’m going to be training hard to get ready for the next race.”